Furnace charging apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for charging a plurality of melt furnaces, including a horizontally disposed conveyor, preferably of the vibrator feeder type, having one end adapted to receive charge material and its other end adapted to feed the material into any one of said furnaces, and a pre-heat furnace overlying the conveyor for preheating the charge material. The conveyor and furnace are carried by a common support frame which is pivoted about a vertical pivot so that the conveyor and furnace may be swung horizontally to alignment with any one furnace. The pre-heat furnace has a rotatable connection with an exhaust stack, which connection is concentric with the vertical pivot. In a further embodiment of the invention, a sub-frame supports the conveyor from the support frame so that the conveyor may be moved toward and away from the furnaces to compensate for variance in distance between the discharge end of the conveyor and the furnaces.

United States Patent [1 1 Venetta 1March 20, 1973 154] FURNACE CHARGING APPARATUS [75] inventor: Henry J. Venetta, Warren, Ohio [73] Assignee: Venetta Engineering, Warren, Ohio [22] Filed: Sept. 24, 1970 [211 App]. No.: 75,075

[52] US. Cl .4588, 432/133, 432/214, 432/239,214/25 [51] Int. Cl ..F27d 3/00 [58] Field of Search ..263/6, 21, 21 C, 36; 214/18, 214/26; 198/111, 139, 220 BA, 220 CA, 220

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,343,144 2/1944 Hagenbook 198/220 BA 2,885,067 5/1959 Morris ..198/220 CA 3,522,891 8/1970 Berk et a1. 198/125 X 2,623,740 12/1952 Frost et a1 ..263/21 C 2,905,311 9/1959 Marchetti ..214/18 X 3,342,467 9/1967 Stirling ..263/6 3,381,950 5/1968 Ellis ..263/21 C X Primary Examiner-Charles .l. Myhre Attorney-Michael Williams ABSTRACT Apparatus for charging a plurality of melt furnaces, including a horizontally disposed conveyor, preferably of the vibrator feeder type, having one end adapted to receive charge material and its other end adapted to feed the material into any one of said furnaces, and a pre-heat furnace overlying the conveyor for preheating the charge material. The conveyor and furnace are carried by a common support frame which is pivoted about a vertical pivot so that the conveyor and furnace may be swung horizontally to alignment with any one furnace. The pre-heat furnace has a rotatable connection with an exhaust stack, which connection is concentric with the vertical pivot. In a further embodiment of the invention, a sub-frame supports the conveyor from the support frame so that the conveyor may be moved toward and away from the furnaces to compensate for variance in distance between the discharge end of the conveyor and the furnaces.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHARZOISB 3 ,5 SHEET 2 or 4 /i ii ii INVENTOR. HENRY J. VENETTA BY Zwh/M ATTORNEY PATENTEuuAflzolm FIGS SHEET 3 OF 4 INVENTOR. HENRY J. VENETTA BY%%ZW/ ATTORNEY FIG. 7

PATENTEDmzoms SHEET- 4 [1F 4 INVENTOR. HENRY .1. VENETTA BYZ(%K/%W ATTORNEY FURNACE CHARGING APPARATUS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY My invention makes it possible to charge one of a group of furnaces, while others may be melting the charge, or may be discharging the melt- My invention also makes it possible to arrange the melt furnaces in a straight line pattern, so that any one may discharge into a ladle movable along a rectilinear rail.

The charge carried by the conveyor is preheated, and both the conveyor and the pre-heat furnace are swingable about a vertical pivot so that the discharge end of the conveyor may be aligned with any one of a plurality of furnaces. The conveyor support includes means for shifting the conveyor horizontally toward and away from the furnaces to compensate for any variance in distance between a furnace and the discharge end of the conveyor. The pre-heat furnace is rotatably connected to an exhaust stock along a center concentric with the aforementioned vertical pivot.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the drawings accompanying this description and forming a part of this specification, there are shown, for purposes of illustration, embodiments which my invention may assume, and in these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus illustrating an embodiment of my invention,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view corresponding generally to the line 2-2 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing a detail,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view corresponding generally to the line 5-5 of FIG. I, but drawn to a larger scale,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view, partly in section, showing another embodiment of my invention,

FIG. 7 is a horizontal view corresponding generally to the line 7-7 of FIG. 6, and

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view corresponding generally to the line 8--8 of FIG. 6, but drawn to a larger scale.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention provides for the controlled charging and preheating of material to a place of use, and more specifically provides means for preheating material, such as scrap iron or the like and simultaneously feeding it to a melt furnace. The material may be deposited into a tiltable hopper 10 (FIG. 1) from a railway car or a truck.

The presently preferred embodiment of my invention comprises a vibrating feeder 11 which is mounted on a supporting structure 12 extending from a foundation F. Springs 14 are interposed between the feeder structure and the supporting structure and a vibratory drive 15 effects vibratory feeding of the feeder 1 I. The feeder is herein disclosed only in general fashion, but may take the form of vibrating feeders manufactured by Rex Vibrating Equipment, Carrier Division.

The hopper 10 is tilted, as shown in FIG. 1, to dump material into a trough 16 on conveyor pan 17 at the top of the vibratory feeder, and the feeding action is to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, and has the effect of not only feeding the material but also levelling it as it is fed.

The material from the vibratory feeder is fed onto a conveyor 19 which has guide sides 18 to direct the material onto the conveyor, and the latter feeds the material to the right (FIG. 1) to one of several furnaces F. Mounted over the conveyor is a heating structure 20A which preheats the material as it is fed toward the furnaces.

The conveyor 19 may take any suitable form and presently it is preferred to use a vibrating feeder of the type manufactured by the above-noted Rex Carrier Division. Generally, the vibrating feeder comprises an elongated metal trough 20 (see FIG. 5) which extends from the vibratory feeder to the furnace, the right hand end of the trough having a chute 21 for directing the material into an opening in the top of a furnace. The furnaces also may be of any suitable form, and those generally illustrated in the drawings are of the nose-tilt channel type manufactured by the Ajax Magnethermic Corporation.

The elongated trough is carried by a frame structure 22 which is supported from an underlying frame structure 23 by means of a plurality of leaf springs 24 which, as seen in FIG. 5, are disposed on opposite sides of the frame structures 22 and 23. A drive motor 25 is supported on the underlying frame structure (on its left hand side as viewed in FIG. 1) and has a belt or chain drive with an eccentric 26 to cause a longitudinal reciprocation of the frame structure 22 and the trough 20 supported thereby, and the leaf springs 24 impart a vibratory feeding to the trough so that the material in the latter is fed in controlled manner to a furnace.

The left hand end of the underlying frame structure 22 is supported by a base 27 resting on the foundation F, and the right hand end of the underlying frame structure is supported by a base 28 which also rests on the foundation. The preheating furnace 20A is preferably a tunnel-type furnace and comprises an inverted trough 29 (see especially FIGS. 5 and 8) which extends from a place spaced inwardly from the left hand end of the conveyor 19 to a place spaced inwardly of the right hand end of the conveyor.

The furnace trough 29 transversely spans the conveyor trough 20 and has a heat resisting interior lining 30. The conveyor trough 20 also preferably has a heatresistant lining 31. The furnace trough has a series of reenforcements 32 and the latter are supported from the underlying frame structure by means of a plurality of channel beams 33. The sides of the furnace trough have a plurality of inspection openings which are closed by inspection doors 34. A plurality of burners 35, of any suitable type, enter the furnace through the top of the furnace trough 29. A chain curtain 36 at the right hand end of the furnace tends to retain heat within the furnace but permits feeding of material along the conveyor trough 20. A hood 37 connects the furnace with a vertically extending exhaust stack 38 and an optional after burner 39 is disposed within the hood to complete the combustion of gases flowing to the exhaust stack.

My invention makes it possible to feed material to any one of a plurality of furnaces, so that one furnace may be pouring its melt while another one is being charged. Referring to FIG. 4, three furnaces F are shown, the furnaces being shown in a straight line pattern in full lines and in an arcuate pattern in dotted lines.

The embodiment of the invention disclosed in FIGS. 1 through 5 is adapted for use with furnaces in an arcuate pattern, although this embodiment may be easily modified for use with furnaces in a straight line pattern. Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the underlying frame structure 23 has a turn-table structure 45 secured to its undersurface at its left-hand end. The structure 45 and the base 27 have circular-plate thrust bearings 46 which support the load and provide for turning of the underlying frame structure, and the apparatus supported thereby, about a pivot 47. It is to be noted that the stack 38 is on the same center as the pivot 47. Referring to FIG. 3, the hood 37 has a circular trough 48 into which the lower end of the stack is disposed, and sand 49 or other suitable sealant is placed in the trough so that the hood 37 may be swung about the center 47 and relative to the stationary stack without leakage of gases.

The base 27 has an upstanding rectangular frame 50 (see FIG. 2) in which the turn-table structure is disposed and a fluid cylinder 51 has its piston rod 52 pivotally connected to an ear 53 extending from such structure. The blank end of the cylinder is pivotally connected, at 54 to a lug 55'welded to a corner of the frame 50. The cylinder 51 is shown in its intermediate position wherein the underlying frame structure, and the parts supported thereby, is in alignment with the center furnace. The cylinder is adapted to swing the turn-table structure 45 to either one of the positions 56,57 (see FIG. 3) to align the underlying frame structure with a selected furnace on opposite sides of the center furnace.

The right hand end of the underlying frame structure 23 is supported to provide for the swinging movement thereof and, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, a flanged wheel 58 depends from the structure 23 and rides along a curved track 59 which is supported by the base 28 resting on the foundation F. The center of curvature of the track 59 is coincident with the pivot 47.

In operation, material is dumped from the hopper into the vibrator feeder 11, where it is levelled and fed into the vibrator conveyor 19. The material on the conveyor is fed in a direction toward the furnace, and is pre-heated as it passes through the tunnel furnace 20A, and finally is fed to the chute 21 and into the furnace, which in the illustrated embodiment is the center furnace. At this time, one of the other furnaces may be heating the charge while the other furnace is discharging the melt. When the center furnace has been charged, and one of the other furnaces is ready for a charge, the cylinder 51 is actuated to shift the structure in alignment with such other furnace.

Some mills prefer to have the furnaces in a straight line pattern, as shown in full lines in FIG. 4, so that the furnaces may pour their melt in a ladle (not shown) carried by a straight line monorail 61. My invention makes provision for compensating for the increase in length required when either furnace on opposite sides I of the center furnace is to be charged.

As seen in FIGSf6through 8, frame sections are fastened in overlying relation to the underlying frame structure 23 and thus are interposed between the latter structure nd the furnace supporting beams 33. The frame sections support a pair of rectilinear rails 6363 along which ride flanged wheels 64 carried by a pair of axles 65. One axle 65 is carried by the right hand end (FIGS. 6 and 7) of a sub-frame 66 and the other axle is carried by the left hand end of this sub-frame. As seen in FIG. 8, the sub-frame 66 supports the vibrator conveyor 19. A long fluid cylinder 67 is pivotally carried by a support 68 secured to the underlying frame structure 23, and has its piston rod 69 pivotally connected to a lug 70 depending from the right hand end (FIG. 6) of the sub-frame 66.

In retracted position of the piston rod 69, the feeder conveyor will have its chute 21 arranged to feed a charge into the center furnace. When the structure is swung about the vertical pivot 47 by the cylinder 51 to bring it into alignment with either furnace on opposite sides of the center furnace, fluid under pressure is admitted to the blank end of cylinder 67 to extend its piston rod 69 and shift the sub-frame 66 (and the feeder conveyor carried thereby) so that the chute 21 is disposed in proper feeding position with the furnaces. At this time, no material is fed from the vibrating conveyor to the vibrating feeder. The cylinders 51 and 67 may be independently controlled, or may be included in a fluid circuit to operate simultaneously. FIG. 4 illustrates a cat-walk 71 along which a workman may walk to inspect proper operation of the apparatus, and this cat-walk may support controls (not shown) for effecting operation of the various parts of the apparatus.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for charging a melt furnace, comprising an elongated underlying horizontally disposed frame structure, a sub-frame carried by said frame structure for shifting movement rectilinearly thereof, a horizontal conveyor carried by said sub-frame, adapted to receive charge material at one end and discharge it from its other end into said furnace, and means to shift said sub-frame toward and away from said furnace and thereby accommodate any variance in distance between the discharge end of said conveyor and said furnace.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of furnaces are arranged in a straight line pattern, said underlying frame structure being pivoted about a vertical pivot so that said conveyor may be swung to alignment with any one of said furnaces.

3. Apparatus for charging a plurality of melt furnaces arranged in a predetermined space pattern, comprising a conveyor, means for depositing charge material on the charge end .of said conveyor for transportation horizontally therealong to the discharge end and into a selected one of said furnaces, means forming a vertical pivot at said charge end of said conveyor to provide for horizontal shifting of the discharge end to alignment with any one of said furnaces, and means for bodily shifting said conveyor horizontally to accommodate for charges in distance between its discharge end and said furnaces, which changes are caused by the swinging of said discharge end.

4. Apparatus for charging a selected one of a plurality of melt furnaces arranged in spaced apart relation in a straight pattern, comprising a base, an elongated, horizontally disposed frame structure supported on said base, a conveyor extending lengthwise of and supported by said frame structure, means for depositing furnace charge material on the charge end of said conveyor for transportation along the latter to its discharge end and into a selected one on said furnaces, a tunneltype furnace carried by said frame structure to overlie at least a portion of said conveyor to preheat the charge material prior to its introduction into a furnace, means between said base and said frame structure forming a vertical pivot adjacent to the charge end of said conveyor and about which said frame structure may swing horizontally, said conveyor and said tunnel-type furnace moving with said frame structure so that the discharge end of said conveyor may be aligned for discharge into any one of said melt furnaces, motor means between said base and said frame structure for effecting swinging movement of the latter, and means for bodily shifting said conveyor longitudinally of said frame structure to accommodate for changes in distance between its discharge end and said melt furnace, which distance changes are caused by swinging of said frame structure.

5. Apparatus for charging a selected one of a plurality of melt furnaces arranged in a predetermined pattern, comprising a base, an elongated, horizontally disposed frame structure supported on said base, a conveyor extending lengthwise of and supported by said frame structure, means for depositing furnace charge material on the charge end of said conveyor for transportation along the latter to its discharge end and into a selected one on said furnaces, a tunnel-type furnace carried by said frame structure to overlie at least a portion of said conveyor to preheat the charge material prior to its introduction into a furnace, means between said base and said frame structure forming a vertical pivotadjacent to the charge end of said conveyor and about which said frame structure may swing horizontally, said conveyor and said tunnel-type furnace moving with said frame structure so that the discharge end of said conveyor may be aligned for discharge into any one of said melt furnaces, motor means between said base and said frame structure for effecting swinging movement of the latter, said tunnel-type furnace communicating with an exhaust stack portion which is coaxial with said vertical pivot, and a rotatable seal connection between said tunnel-type furnace and said stack portion.

6. Apparatus for charging a plurality of melt furnaces arranged in a predetermined pattern; comprising a conveyor, means for depositing charge material on one end of said conveyor for transportation horizontally therealong to the other end and into a selected one of said furnaces, means forming a vertical pivot at said one end of said conveyor to provide for horizontal shifting of the other end of said conveyor to alignment with anyone of said furnaces, a preheat furnace overlying at least a portion of said conveyor to pre-heat the charge material prior to its introduction into a furnace, said pre-heat furnace being swingable about the axis of said vertical pivot to maintain its relationship with said conveyor, said pre-heat furnace communicating with an exhaust stack having a portion which is coaxial with the axis of said vertical pivot, and a seal connection between said pre-heat furnace and said stack to permit rotation of said furnace and yet seal against loss of exhaust fumes.

7. Apparatus for charging a selected one of a plurality of melt furnaces arranged in a spaced, side-by-side pattern; comprising an underlying, elongated, horizontally disposed frame structure, means forming a vertical pivot between an end portion of said frame structure and a stationary base, whereby the other end portion of said frame structure may be shifted in a horizontal plane for alignment with any one of said furnaces, a further elongated frame structure overlying and longitudinally aligned with said underlying frame structure, an elongated conveyor trough longitudinally aligned with and connected to said further frame structure, said trough having a charge receiving end at said one end portion of said underlying frame portion and a charge delivering end at said other end portion, means between said underlying frame structure and said further frame structure to support the latter above the former and provide for limited relative longitudinal movement therebetween, means for longitudinally reciprocating said further frame structure and the connected trough to move charge material from the charge receiving end of said trough to its delivering end for discharge into a furnace, support beams extending up wardly from said underlying frame structure on opposite sides of said further frame structure and the connected trough, an elongated tunnel-type fu'rnace' supported on said beams in position closely overlying and aligned with said trough to preheat the charge material on said trough, the foregoing structure providing for simultaneous horizontal shifting of said furnace and said trough about said vertical pivot because both are mounted on said underlying frame structure, said furnace being stationary as said trough is reciprocated.

8. The construction according to claim 7 wherein said tunnel-type furnace and a stationary exhaust stack are in communication through interfitting parts which are relatively rotatable about an axis coaxial with said vertical pivot.

9. The construction according to claim 7 wherein 

1. Apparatus for charging a melt furnace, comprising an elongated underlying horizontally disposed frame structure, a sub-frame carried by said frame structure for shifting movement rectilinearly thereof, a horizontal conveyor carried by said subframe, adapted to receive charge material at one end and discharge it from its other end into said furnace, and means to shift said sub-frame toward and away from said furnace and thereby accommodate any variance in distance between the discharge end of said conveyor and said furnace.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of furnaces are arranged in a straight line pattern, said underlying frame structure being pivoted about a vertical pivot so that said conveyor may be swung to alignment with any one of said furnaces.
 3. Apparatus for charging a plurality of melt furnaces arranged in a predetermined space pattern, comprising a conveyor, means for depositing charge material on the charge end of said conveyor for transportation horizontally therealong to the discharge end and into a selected one of said furnaces, means forming a vertical pivot at said charge end of said conveyor to provide for horizontal shifting of the discharge end to alignment with any one of said furnaces, and means for bodily shifting said conveyor horizontally to accommodate for charges in distance between its discharge end and said furnaces, which changes are caused by the swinging of said discharge end.
 4. Apparatus for charging a selected one of a plurality of melt furnaces arranged in spaced apart relation in a straight pattern, comprising a base, an elongated, horizontally disposed frame structure supported on said base, a conveyor extending lengthwise of and supported by said frame structure, means for depositing furnace charge material on the charge end of said conveyor for transportation along the latter to its discharge end and into a selected one on said furnaces, a tunnel-type furnace carried by said frame structure to overlie at least a portion of said conveyor to preheat the charge material prior to its introduction into a furnace, means between said base and said frame structure forming a vertical pivot adjacent to the charge end of said conveyor and about which said frame structure may swing horizontally, said conveyor and said tunnel-type furnace moving with said frame structure so that the discharge end of said conveyor may be aligned for discharge into any one of said melt furnaces, motor means between said base and said frame structure for effecting swinging movement of the latter, and means for bodily shifting said conveyor longitudinally of said frame structure to accommodate for changes in distance between its discharge end and said melt furnace, which distance changes are caused by swinging of said frame structure.
 5. Apparatus foR charging a selected one of a plurality of melt furnaces arranged in a predetermined pattern, comprising a base, an elongated, horizontally disposed frame structure supported on said base, a conveyor extending lengthwise of and supported by said frame structure, means for depositing furnace charge material on the charge end of said conveyor for transportation along the latter to its discharge end and into a selected one on said furnaces, a tunnel-type furnace carried by said frame structure to overlie at least a portion of said conveyor to preheat the charge material prior to its introduction into a furnace, means between said base and said frame structure forming a vertical pivot adjacent to the charge end of said conveyor and about which said frame structure may swing horizontally, said conveyor and said tunnel-type furnace moving with said frame structure so that the discharge end of said conveyor may be aligned for discharge into any one of said melt furnaces, motor means between said base and said frame structure for effecting swinging movement of the latter, said tunnel-type furnace communicating with an exhaust stack portion which is coaxial with said vertical pivot, and a rotatable seal connection between said tunnel-type furnace and said stack portion.
 6. Apparatus for charging a plurality of melt furnaces arranged in a predetermined pattern; comprising a conveyor, means for depositing charge material on one end of said conveyor for transportation horizontally therealong to the other end and into a selected one of said furnaces, means forming a vertical pivot at said one end of said conveyor to provide for horizontal shifting of the other end of said conveyor to alignment with anyone of said furnaces, a preheat furnace overlying at least a portion of said conveyor to pre-heat the charge material prior to its introduction into a furnace, said pre-heat furnace being swingable about the axis of said vertical pivot to maintain its relationship with said conveyor, said pre-heat furnace communicating with an exhaust stack having a portion which is coaxial with the axis of said vertical pivot, and a seal connection between said pre-heat furnace and said stack to permit rotation of said furnace and yet seal against loss of exhaust fumes.
 7. Apparatus for charging a selected one of a plurality of melt furnaces arranged in a spaced, side-by-side pattern; comprising an underlying, elongated, horizontally disposed frame structure, means forming a vertical pivot between an end portion of said frame structure and a stationary base, whereby the other end portion of said frame structure may be shifted in a horizontal plane for alignment with any one of said furnaces, a further elongated frame structure overlying and longitudinally aligned with said underlying frame structure, an elongated conveyor trough longitudinally aligned with and connected to said further frame structure, said trough having a charge receiving end at said one end portion of said underlying frame portion and a charge delivering end at said other end portion, means between said underlying frame structure and said further frame structure to support the latter above the former and provide for limited relative longitudinal movement therebetween, means for longitudinally reciprocating said further frame structure and the connected trough to move charge material from the charge receiving end of said trough to its delivering end for discharge into a furnace, support beams extending upwardly from said underlying frame structure on opposite sides of said further frame structure and the connected trough, an elongated tunnel-type furnace supported on said beams in position closely overlying and aligned with said trough to preheat the charge material on said trough, the foregoing structure providing for simultaneous horizontal shifting of said furnace and said trough about said vertical pivot because both are mounted on said underlying frame structure, said furnace being stationary as said trough is reciprocated.
 8. The construction according to claim 7 wherein said tunnel-type furnace and a stationary exhaust stack are in communication through interfitting parts which are relatively rotatable about an axis coaxial with said vertical pivot.
 9. The construction according to claim 7 wherein said melt furnaces are arranged in a circular path which has its center at said vertical pivot. 